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Kingsport board approves budget adjustments, transit purchases, procurement renewals and school funding moves
Summary
At the March 17 meeting the board approved multiple first- and second-reading budget and procurement items — including a budget adjustment to outfit a new ladder truck ($85,000), a $121,000 energy grant, acceptance of school donations and Chromebook purchases, renewal of water/waste chemical contracts, purchase of three transit vehicles, and a Hansen CIS contract amendment of roughly $300,000. Most items passed unanimously.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a series of budget amendments, procurement renewals and grants during its March 17 business meeting.
City Manager Chris McCart outlined a first-reading budget amendment that includes a transfer of $85,000 from general fund balance to outfit a new ladder truck for the Kingsport Fire Department; appropriation of $40,000 from the Allendale Trust for Brown House repairs at Allendale Mansion; and acceptance of a $121,000 Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant for LED/high-mass projects. The first-reading package passed on the board’s vote.
On school-related items, the board approved a school budget amendment on first reading that journals $100,000 in interest earnings for Kingsport City Schools and moves savings from a Washington HVAC replacement to fund a fire alarm replacement at Robinson Middle School. The board also approved acceptance of a $4,500 donation from Ballad Health for a reset room at Adams Elementary and authorization to move $124,500 for Chromebook purchases.
Procurements and contract actions included unanimous board approval to renew awards for water and wastewater chemicals (multiple vendors listed in the packet), and to award bids for water and sewer maintenance items that exceed $50,000. The board authorized purchase of three Ford E-350 StarTrans vehicles from Mid South Bus Center using the Tennessee state contract for Kingsport Area Transit. Staff also presented and the board ratified an ImageTrend Records Management System order-form amendment totaling $6,750 for the Fire Department and approved a Hansen Banner LLC contract amendment to extend the customer information system conversion and legacy data conversion support (board noted the amendment of about $300,000 was within available funding and passed 7–0).
The board approved a resolution to apply for and accept FTA Section 5339 capital grant funds for one transit vehicle (staff said 85% FTA, 7.5% state and 7.5% local match; total cost listed as $132,292). It also authorized the mayor to apply for and accept TDOT Section 5307 state matching funds for transit preventative maintenance (cost-share percentages described by staff).
Why it matters: The actions move forward capital equipment replacement for public safety and transit, authorize multi-vendor contracts that support water and wastewater operations, and allocate school resources for safety and student devices. Several items were funded from existing budget authority or external grants.
What’s next: Staff will execute purchase orders, finalize grant documents and continue implementation; the Hansen amendment supports the planned customer information system rollout next month.
